Time | Hillary Clinton called on Wednesday for broad criminal-justice reform
and renewed trust between police officers and communities, reflecting
the former First Lady’s evolution from supporting the policies
instituted by her husband two decades ago in a period of high crime
rates.
Clinton called for body cameras in every police department in the
country, as well as an end to an “era of mass incarceration.” Her speech
came two days after the funeral in Baltimore of Freddie Gray, a
25-year-old black man who died while in police custody, and amidst
ongoing civil unrest in that city.
“There is something profoundly wrong when African-American men are
far more likely to be stopped by the police and charged with crimes and
given longer prison terms than their white counterparts,” Clinton said.
“There is something wrong when trust between law enforcement and the
communities they serve breaks down … We must urgently begin to rebuild
bonds of trust and respect among American between police and citizens.”
Clinton offered few specific policy plans in the speech, and didn’t
explain how police forces would pay for body cameras on all officers.
She spoke broadly about reducing jail sentences for low-level offenders
and the effects of imprisoning millions, particular African Americans.
“We don’t want to create another incarceration generation,” Clinton
said.
